One of the other places I’ve been lately is Cloud Nine. Melody reminded me that I haven’t yet posted anything about the Husqvarna Viking announcement. I got a call this week from Sweden to say I’d won second prize in their special exhibition that opens in Houston the end of this October. So it was a very nice surprise to find out I’ve won a Viking Quilt Designer II sewing machine. And to make things even better, the next day I got a call from Houston to say my airfare and hotel to the Houston festival and awards ceremony would be paid for. Now I’ll get to see what all this Houston hysteria is all about!

It all makes me very anxious to get back to the studio and get to work. Here’s part of a drawing I’m working on for a quilt called “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” I thought of the idea on the Fourth of July, but only now getting started on it. I’m still doing research and sketches for the rest of the design — by the way, does anyone know any common names for Iranian men? Don’t worry, the quilt has nothing to do with terrorism. It’s about one of craziest summer jobs I ever had…